The Impact of Transfer Setup on the Performance of Independent Transfers: Phase I Final Report

Grab bar protocol

One hundred and fifteen (115) subjects were tested under this protocol and four were unable to perform any transfers because this particular configuration posed significant barriers to their transfer. These four subjects were the ones that could not attain any of the other protocols.

When transferring to a lower height, with the front grab bar available, and without side guard, 51% (59/115), CI[42%,60%] used the front bar, and 20% (23/111), CI[12%,25%] could transfer to a lower height when using the bar, and the bar height preference was 30 ± 3.9” (76.2±9.9cm) median 30” (76.2cm). When transferring to a higher height, with the front grab bar, and without side guard, 59% (68/115), CI[50%,68%] used the  front bar, 17% (20/115), CI[12%,25%] could transfer to a higher height when using the bar, and the bar height preference was  33.4 ± 3.1” median  32” (84.8±7.8cm, median 81.3 cm).

One-hundred and fifteen subjects performed the part of the protocol that included the side guard.   65% (75/115), CI[56%,73%] attained the transfer at level with their WMD and 10% (11/115) , CI[5%,16%] of the subjects who could not transfer with the side guard in place in the previous protocol could transfer with the grab bar in front. When transferring to a lower height, with the front grab bar available and side guard in place 56% (64/115), CI[46%,64%] used the front bar and 19% (22/115), CI[13%,28%] could transfer to a lower height when using the front grab bar. When transferring to a higher height, with the front grab bar available, and the side guard, only 72 could transfer to a higher height and 51% (59/115), CI[42%,60%] used the front bar and 17% (20/115) , CI[12%,25%] could transfer to a higher height when using the bar. Although presented with the option to change the front grab bar height, subjects chose the same height for all the low height and high height transfers as they used when the side guard was not present.